Filter system

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a housing for a vacuum filter assembly. The housing may include a top piece with an upper portion defining a top wall of a cavity and a generally circular perimeter forming a side wall of the cavity. The perimeter of the top piece may be configured to receive a filter member. An input aperture may extend through the top piece and may be arranged for communication with the cavity. A spindle may extend into the cavity from the top wall of the cavity such that a material drawn into the cavity by a vacuum force moves in a spiral vortex through the cavity about the spindle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/531,463, filed Nov. 3, 2014, and issuing as U.S.Pat. No. 9,604,372 on Mar. 28, 2017, which application is a divisionalof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/162,084, filed on Jun. 16, 2011,and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,876,981, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hair clipper filtering assembly and amethod for clipping, removing shaved or clipped hair from the clippedsite, and filtering the clipped hair. More specifically, the presentinvention is a disposable hair clipper filter assembly.

BACKGROUND

Clipping of hair is a common action and is often performed on siteswhich further require removal of the clipped hair. An example of such asite may be found in the surgical arena, in which the areas of incisionon surgical patients may be shaved prior to invasive or surgicalprocedures to thereby remove hair that might harbor germs and thus serveas a source of contamination. Loose hair clippings that remain on thepatient fall onto the sheets, covers and bed surroundings and must bepicked up and removed. At present, the most common protocol for pickingup the loose hair clippings is to press an adhesive backed material,usually tape, against the area where the clipped hair remains. Thismethod is unsanitary, inefficient and misses many hair clippings, all ofwhich are potentially harmful to the patient. Furthermore, adhesivetapes are not typically kept under sterile conditions. This increasesthe risk of spreading infectious contaminants through the surgical suiteand possibly throughout the medical facility. In addition, patients maybe allergic or otherwise reactive to the adhesive used in tape. Thus,there is a need for a more efficient, sanitary and cost effective methodfor clipping and hair removal.

Clippers having a vacuum capability have been used with some success,but these often exacerbate the situation when, for example, vacuumfiltration is inadequate, unsanitary, or requires frequent cleaning. Inpreviously known vacuum arrangements, a filter bag or other collectionstructure may be arranged in-line with vacuum flow to receive theclipped hair. Known devices typically further require the filter bag orother known collection structure to be removed from the apparatus,emptied into a trash container, and reinstalled on the apparatus aftereach use, or while using in the event of a clogged filter. This practiceis cumbersome and unsanitary. In contrast, the present disposable filterassembly may be removed from the vacuum hose and canister and entirelydisposed of without the need for opening or reuse. Alternatively, thevacuum hose, nozzle and filter assembly may be removed from the canisterfor disposal. This greatly reduces the incidence of contamination.Further, the unique arrangement of the various components of the presentassembly promotes filter life and reduces occurrences of filterclogging, as will be discussed below.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention pertains to a filter assembly that is designed tosecurely attach to a vacuum apparatus and for use in conjunction with ahair clipper. The filter assembly preferably includes a housing having atop piece and a bottom piece. The assembly further includes a filtermember. The components may be generally circular in shape. The top pieceis preferably formed having a generally circular perimeter with anorifice located on the perimeter such that the orifice is adapted fortangential acceptance of a vacuum hose. The specific arrangement ofcomponents, including the tangential position of the orifice, creates ahair collecting vortex within the assembly when a vacuum source isattached and activated. This unique configuration promotes a moreefficient and even accumulation of the cut hairs on the filter member,thereby increasing the longevity and effectiveness of the filter member.Further, the filter is placed between the top piece and the bottom pieceto collect the cut hair, yet the filter is porous enough to allow enoughair to pass through to create a sufficient vacuum.

One benefit of the present filter assembly is that it may be easilyremoved from the vacuum apparatus after use and the entire assembly canbe disposed of. This feature eliminates the need to open the assembly toclean the filter, thereby vastly reducing the mess and potentialcontamination associated with hair removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a clipper vacuum systemutilizing the filter system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a filter system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the system illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing thesystem rotated to a bottom view.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the system illustrated in FIGS. 2-4,

FIG. 6 is a side view of the system illustrated in FIGS. 2-5,

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the system shown in FIG. 5 and takenalong lines 7-7 thereof.

FIG. 8A is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the system shown inFIG. 5 and taken along line 8 thereof.

FIG. 8B is a view similar to that of FIG. 8A, but illustrating analternative embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 7, butillustrating movement of clipped hair within the system.

FIG. 10 is a top view further illustrating movement shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9, but illustrating furtheraccumulation of clipped hair on the filler.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10, but illustrating continuedmovement within the system during accumulation of clipped hair on thefilter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodimentsherein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied inother specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has beendescribed, the details may be changed without departing from theinvention, which is defined by the claims.

As seen in the view of FIG. 1, the present invention pertains to afilter assembly 10 that is designed to securely attach to a vacuumapparatus 12 and for use in conjunction with a hair clipper 14. Asillustrated, a clipper 14 may be used to initially remove hair from atarget site, such as a surgical area. A vacuum apparatus 12, such as theone depicted in FIG. 1, draws the cut hair through a vacuum hose 16 andinto a canister 18.

As illustrated, in FIGS. 2-4, an assembly 10 according to the presentinvention preferably includes a housing 20 having a top piece 22 and abottom piece 24. A filter member 26 is positioned within the housing 20and is held in place by the top and bottom pieces 22, 24. As seen, thevarious components 22, 24, 26 preferably have a generally circularperimeter. As is further illustrated, the circular perimeter 28 of thetop piece 22 includes a tubular input aperture 30 which is arranged totangentially communicate with the interior 32 of the assembly 10. Asseen, the input aperture 30 is further adapted to accept a vacuum hose16 from a vacuum apparatus 12. The housing 20 may be manufactured byinjection molding or other acceptable means. The top and bottom pieces22, 24 may be preferably assembled by use of a snap fit, but it is to beunderstood that other assembly means may be used such as sonic welding,gluing, or screwing, by way of non-limiting example.

As viewed specifically in FIGS. 9-12., the unique tangential arrangementof input aperture 30 causes the cut hairs 34 to move in a spiral, haircollecting vortex in the direction of arrows A. As illustrated, thespiral may move about a supporting spindle 36, or alternatively, aspindle may be absent, as is seen in FIG. 8B. The movement of cut hair34 in the vortex-like or spiral movement within the assembly 10 promotesbetter distribution of accumulated cut hairs 34 on the filter member 26.Furthermore, as the cut hairs 34 continue to move in a vortex-likemanner in the direction of arrows A, the filter member 26, which isplaced between the top piece 22 and the bottom piece 24, collects thecut hair 34. As further seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tangentialarrangement of input aperture 30 and the resultant movement in thedirection of arrows A also causes the cut hairs 34 to initiallyaccumulate on an outer edge 50 of the filter member 26 surface 48 and,as collection continues, to continually accumulate closer to an innerfilter portion 52. The progression of cut hair 34 accumulation, fromouter filter edge 50 to inner filter portion 52 during hair collection,increases filter 26 longevity by maximizing filter member 26 usagethrough incremental collection. Further, as the surface 48 of filtermember 26 becomes covered with cut hair 34, filter pressure will drop;however cut hair 34 accumulation from outer filter edge 50 to innerfilter portion 52 as is achieved with the present assembly 10, willminimize filter pressure decreases during use. This will furtherincrease the longevity of the assembly 10.

The filter member 26 used with the present system preferably has aporous characteristic adequate to allow enough air to pass through inthe direction of arrows B to thereby create suction sufficient tocontinue the procedure, while maintaining cut hair collectioncapabilities. An example of a filter member 26 for use with the presentassembly may be one designed to filter out various sized particles, e.g.bacteria and virus, with different percentage of effectiveness, with apreferred filter member 26 having a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value(MERV) of about 16.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8A, 8B it may be seen that the bottompiece 24 of the assembly 10 may include a top surface 38 facing thefilter member 26, and an outer, bottom surface 40. The respectivesurfaces 38, 40 further define a vacuum aperture 42 there through. Asseen, the vacuum aperture 42 is adapted for communication with a vacuumcanister 18 which provides the vacuum source. The vacuum aperture 42further enables the assembly 10 to function in line with the hose member16 to collect the hair clippings 34. The top surface 38 may be furtherprovided with a plurality of supporting ribs 44. As shown, the ribs 44provide support for the filter member 26. As seen specifically in FIGS.7, 8A, 8B, and 9, the ribs 44 may be formed to further provideinterstices 46 between a supported filter member 26 and the aperture 42to thereby allow vacuum forces exerted by the vacuum apparatus 12 to beapplied fully across the entire filter member 26 surface 48. This actionfurther encourages even distribution of cut hair 34 over the filtermember 26 surface 48.

The present invention may further include a cut hair collection methodincluding:

providing a vacuum source proximate; the cut hair;

providing a filter assembly having a top piece and a bottom piecedefining an interior cavity, and a filter member located within thecavity, the assembly having a generally circular perimeter;

providing the circular perimeter of the top piece with a tubular inputaperture arranged to tangentially communicate with the interior, theinput aperture being adapted to accept a vacuum hose;

providing the bottom piece with a top surface facing the filter member,and an outer, bottom surface; the surfaces further being provided with avacuum aperture there through;

applying a vacuum to the assembly interior through the vacuum aperture;

moving the cut hairs through the input aperture and into the assembly;

circulating the cut hairs in a collecting vortex; and

collecting the cut hair on the filter member.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changeswill readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. While the preferred embodiment has been described, thedetails may be changed without departing from the invention, which isdefined by the claims.

We claim:
 1. A housing for a vacuum filter assembly, the housingcomprising: a top piece with an upper portion defining a top wall of acavity and a generally circular perimeter forming a side wall of thecavity, where the perimeter is configured to receive a filter member; aninput aperture extending through the top piece and arranged forcommunication with the cavity; and a spindle extending into the cavityfrom the top wall of the cavity such that a material drawn into thecavity by a vacuum force moves in a spiral vortex through the cavityabout the spindle.
 2. The housing of claim 1, further comprising abottom piece secured to the top piece, the bottom piece including avacuum aperture for providing communication between the cavity and avacuum source.
 3. The housing of claim 2, where the bottom pieceincludes a top surface with a plurality of supporting ribs forsupporting the filter member.
 4. The housing of claim 1, where the inputaperture is located on the perimeter of the top piece.
 5. The housing ofclaim 4, where the input aperture is tangentially positioned on theperimeter.
 6. The housing of claim 1, where the spindle is centered withrespect to the generally circular perimeter of the top piece.
 7. Thehousing of claim 1, where the spindle is configured to contact andsupport a top surface of the filter member.
 8. A housing for a vacuumfilter assembly, the housing comprising: a top piece with an upperportion defining a top wall of a cavity and a generally circularperimeter forming a side wall of the cavity, where the perimeter isconfigured to receive a filter member; and a bottom piece securable tothe top piece, the bottom piece including: a surface defining a bottomwall of the cavity; a vacuum aperture extending through the surface andconfigured to provide communication between the cavity and a vacuumsource; and a plurality of ribs extending into the cavity from thebottom wall, the plurality of ribs configured to support the filtermember and to provide interstices between the supported filter memberand the bottom wall of the cavity such that a vacuum force applied tothe cavity from the vacuum source is exerted fully across the filtermember.
 9. The housing of claim 8, further comprising an input apertureextending through the top piece and arranged for tangentialcommunication with the cavity.
 10. The housing of claim 8, furthercomprising a spindle extending into the cavity from the top wall of thecavity such that a material drawn into the cavity by a vacuum forcemoves in a spiral vortex through the cavity about the spindle.
 11. Thehousing of claim 10, where the spindle is centered with respect to thegenerally circular perimeter of the top piece.
 12. The housing of claim10, where the spindle is configured to contact and support a top surfaceof the filter member.
 13. A filter system, the filter system comprising:a housing with a top piece with an upper portion defining a top wall ofa cavity and a generally circular perimeter forming a side wall of thecavity, the housing having an input aperture arranged for communicationwith the cavity; a spindle extending into the cavity from the top wallof the cavity such that a material drawn into the cavity by a vacuumforce moves in a spiral vortex through the cavity about the spindle; abottom piece with a surface defining a bottom wall of the cavity, wherethe bottom piece includes a vacuum aperture extending through thesurface and configured to provide communication between the cavity and avacuum source; and a filter member held in the cavity between the toppiece and the bottom piece.
 14. The filter system of claim 13, furthercomprising a plurality of supporting ribs extending from the surface ofthe bottom piece and supporting the filter member.
 15. The filter systemof claim 14, where the ribs provide interstices between the supportedfilter member and the bottom wall of the cavity such that a vacuum forceapplied to the cavity from the vacuum source is exerted fully across thefilter member.
 16. The filter system of claim 13, where the inputaperture is located on the perimeter of the top piece.
 17. The filtersystem of claim 16, where the input aperture is arranged tangentially onthe perimeter.
 18. The filter system of claim 13, where the spindle iscentered with respect to the generally circular perimeter of the toppiece.
 19. The filter system of claim 13, where the spindle isconfigured to contact and support a top surface of the filter member.20. The filter system of claim 13, where the filter member has a MinimumEfficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of about 16.